Windows ME: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox Windows | {{Infobox Windows | ||
|imagecaption = Microsoft Windows ME | |||
|image = Windows ME Logo.png | |image = Windows ME Logo.png | ||
|codename = Millennium | |codename = Millennium | ||
|kernel = 16/32 bit hybrid, ver. 4.90 | |kernel = 16/32 bit hybrid, ver. 4.90 | ||
|arch = x86 | |arch = x86 | ||
|build = [[ | |build = [[/4.90.3000|4.90.3000]] | ||
|release = 2000 | |release = 14/09/2000 | ||
|licence = Microsoft EULA | |licence = Microsoft EULA | ||
|support = 2006 | |support = Expired 11/07/2006 | ||
|previous = [[Windows 98]] | |previous = [[Windows 98]] | ||
|next = [[Windows XP]] | |next = ''[[Windows Neptune|Neptune]]'' / [[Windows XP]] | ||
}} | }} | ||
[[ | [[File:WinmeBox.png|thumb|Windows ME retail packaging.]] | ||
'''Windows Millennium Edition''' (referred as '''Windows | '''Windows Millennium Edition''' (referred as '''Windows Me''', codenamed ''Millennium'') was the last 16/32 bit hybrid version of [[Microsoft]] [[Windows]]. Discovered by Paul Thurrott in September 1997, the codename ''Millennium'' initially referred to the next Windows version after [[Windows 2000]], then in development as Windows NT 5.0. Windows NT 6.0 Millennium was originally expected in 2000 and 2001. However, on 7 April 1999, during WinHEC 1999,<ref name = "winhec1999">{{cite web | url = https://news.microsoft.com/1999/04/07/steve-ballmer-speech-transcript-winhec-99/ | title = Steve Ballmer Speech Transcript – WinHEC ’99 | first = Steve | last = Ballmer | date = 7 April 1999 | publisher = Microsoft | accessdate = 22 November 2023}}</ref> Microsoft announced that Millennium would be the next release in the Windows 9x line, succeeding [[Windows 98]].<ref name = "win2000gold">{{cite web | url = http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/win2k_gold.asp | title = The Road to Gold: The development of Windows 2000 Reviewed | first = Paul | last = Thurrott | publisher = Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows | date = December 1999 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20000816180054/http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/win2k_gold.asp | archivedate = 16 August 2000 | accessdate = 31 October 2023}}</ref> CEO [[wikipedia:Steve Ballmer|Steve Ballmer]] said: | ||
{{Quotation|I also want to announce today a new version of Consumer Windows that we will deliver in the year 2000.We weren’t sure for a while what we’d be delivering in the year 2000 exactly.Today, I’m here to tell you there will be a new version of Windows next year targeted for the consumer market.It will continue to be built in the year 2000 on the Windows 98 code base as opposed to the Windows 2000 code base.We will get there eventually with Windows 2000 in the consumer market.It had been our target to bet here in 2000, but we’ve decided to do the things that we all need to do to simplify the experience.The right approach next year is to continue to enhance the Windows 98 product.And it will be focused on the key consumer needs, the simplicity or it just works aspects that I talked about, Universal Plug and Play (UpnP) home networking which I’ll have a chance to show you in a minute, improving the online experience since a larger and larger percentage of what people do with their home computers is to be online, and the handling of digital media, pictures, music, video, et cetera, which is becoming more fundamental to the consumer computing experience.We want to extend the functionality of Windows in the consumer environment out of the box. ''(Note: Absence of spaces after every full stop/period is in the original text.)''|Steve Ballmer|Steve Ballmer Speech Transcript – WinHEC ’99|<ref name = "winhec1999" />}} | |||
Although generally perceived to be a failure, Windows | Me was released as version 4.9, but Twitter user Albacore (@thebookisclosed) suggests that the kernel version might have been 5.0 initially, citing files from builds [[/4.90.2332.2|2332]] and [[/4.90.2348.0|2348]], with a version number of 5.0 and build numbers pre-2332.<ref name = "Albacore-ME5.0">{{cite web | author = Albacore (@thebookisclosed) | title = It looks like Windows ME's kernel version might have been 5.0 initially. (instead of 4.9) Over the past few days I've been downloading Win9X builds, extracting them and harvesting file versions and I noticed that while there are no 4.9 builds preceding 2332, there are 5.0 ones. | url = https://twitter.com/thebookisclosed/status/1379386727832252418 | publisher = Twitter | date = 6 April 2021 | accessdate = 17 April 2022}}</ref> | ||
Windows Me was released to manufacturing on June 19, 2000 and to retail on September 14, 2000.<ref>Microsoft. (June 19, 2000). [http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2000/jun00/winmereleasepr.aspx "Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition Released to Manufacturing"]</ref> It was criticized due to its instability, and was sold on the market for a total of 402 days before being superseded by [[Windows XP]] on October 25, 2001.<ref name="Zheng, Long.">Zheng, Long. (March 18, 2008). [http://www.istartedsomething.com/20080318/windows-me-deserve-more-respect/ "Why Windows Me deserves more respect"]</ref> Some components of [[Windows 2000]], such as the TCP/IP stack, were ported to Windows Me. | |||
Prior to the release of Windows Me, Microsoft had planned for [[Windows Neptune]] to bridge the gap between the 9x series and Windows NT. However, Microsoft changed its plans in early 1999 and decided to release another 16/32-bit hybrid operating system, postponing the release of Neptune. Later, the Neptune project was scrapped in favor of Windows XP (then codenamed ''Whistler''). Notably, some of the features scheduled for Neptune, such as the ''Help and Support'' [[Activity Centers|Activity Center]], were included in Windows Me.<ref>Thurrott, Paul. (April 6, 2013). [http://winsupersite.com/windows/supersite-flashback-neptune "SuperSite Flashback: Neptune"]</ref> | |||
Although generally perceived to be a failure, Windows Me introduced several features which would later be deemed beneficial,<ref name="Zheng, Long."/> including ''Automatic Updates'',<ref>Microsoft. [http://support.microsoft.com/kb/268331 "Description of Automatic Updates in Windows Millennium Edition (Me)"]</ref> ''System Restore'',<ref>Microsoft. [http://support.microsoft.com/kb/267951 "Description of the System Restore Utility in Windows Millennium Edition"]</ref> ''Windows Image Acquisition'',<ref>Microsoft Developer Network. [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms630368%28v=vs.85%29.aspx "Windows Image Acquisition (WIA)"]</ref> and ''Windows Movie Maker''. It is also the first consumer oriented version of Windows to natively offer support for USB mass storage devices. | |||
==Builds== | ==Builds== | ||
{{Builds Legend}} | {{Builds Legend}} | ||
===Developer Release=== | ===Developer Release=== | ||
* '''''[[ | * '''''[[/4.90.2332.2|Millennium build 2332.2]]''''' - Developer Release 1 | ||
* '''''[[/4.90.2348.0| | * '''''[[/4.90.2348.0|Millennium build 2348.0]]''''' - Developer Release 2 | ||
* '''[[/4.90.2350.3|Millennium build 2350.3]]''' | * '''[[/4.90.2350.3|Millennium build 2350.3]]''' | ||
* '''[[/4.90.2358.0| | * '''''[[/4.90.2358.0|Millennium build 2358.0]]''''' - Developer Release 3 | ||
* '''[[/4.90.2363|Millennium build 2363]]''' - Developer Release 4 | * '''[[/4.90.2363|Millennium build 2363]]''' - Developer Release 4 | ||
* '''[[/4.90.2368|Millennium build 2368]]''' | * '''[[/4.90.2368|Millennium build 2368]]''' | ||
* '''[[/4.90.2374|Millennium build 2374]]''' | * '''[[/4.90.2374|Millennium build 2374]]''' | ||
===Beta 1=== | ===Beta 1=== | ||
[[File:ME2380 Boot.png|thumb|right|Beta 1 boot screen]] | |||
* '''''[[/4.90.2380.2|Millennium build 2380.2]]''''' - official beta 1 | * '''''[[/4.90.2380.2|Millennium build 2380.2]]''''' - official beta 1 | ||
* '''''[[/4.90.2394|Millennium build 2394]]''''' | * '''''[[/4.90.2394|Millennium build 2394]]''''' | ||
| Line 38: | Line 45: | ||
* '''[[/4.90.2400|Millennium build 2400]]''' | * '''[[/4.90.2400|Millennium build 2400]]''' | ||
* '''[[/4.90.2402|Millennium build 2402]]''' | * '''[[/4.90.2402|Millennium build 2402]]''' | ||
* '''[[ | * '''[[/4.90.2403|Millennium build 2403]]''' | ||
* '''''[[ | * '''''[[/4.90.2404|Millennium build 2404]]''''' | ||
* '''[[ | * '''[[/4.90.2408|Millennium build 2408]]''' | ||
* '''[[ | * '''[[/4.90.2410|Millennium build 2410]]''' | ||
* '''''[[ | * '''''[[/4.90.2416|Millennium build 2416]]''''' | ||
* '''''[[ | * '''''[[/4.90.2419|Millennium build 2419]]''''' - official beta 2 | ||
* '''[[ | * '''''[[/4.90.2429|Millennium build 2429]]''''' | ||
* '''[[/4.90.2434|Millennium build 2434]]''' | |||
* '''[[ | * '''[[/4.90.2443|Millennium build 2443]]''' | ||
* '''[[ | * '''''[[/4.90.2447|Millennium build 2447]]''''' | ||
* '''[[ | * '''''[[/4.90.2452|Windows ME build 2452]]''''' - official beta 2 Refresh | ||
* '''''[[Windows | * '''[[/4.90.2455|Windows ME build 2455]]''' | ||
* '''[[Windows | * '''''[[/4.90.2460|Windows ME build 2460]]''''' | ||
* '''''[[Windows | * '''''[[/4.90.2465|Windows ME build 2465]]''''' | ||
* '''[[ | * '''[[/4.90.2466|Windows ME build 2466]]''' | ||
* '''[[ | * '''''[[/4.90.2470|Windows ME build 2470]]''''' | ||
* '''''[[ | * '''''[[/4.90.2476|Windows ME build 2476]]''''' | ||
* '''''[[ | * '''''[[/4.90.2481|Windows ME build 2481]]''''' | ||
* '''''[[ | * '''''[[/4.90.2487|Windows ME build 2487]]''''' | ||
* '''''[[ | |||
===Beta 3=== | ===Beta 3=== | ||
* '''''[[ | * '''''[[/4.90.2491|Windows ME build 2491]]''''' | ||
* '''''[[ | * '''''[[/4.90.2495|Windows ME build 2495]]''''' | ||
* '''[[ | * '''''[[/4.90.2499|Windows ME build 2499]]''''' - Release Candidate for Beta 3 | ||
* '''''[[ | * '''''[[/4.90.2499.3|Windows ME build 2499.3]]''''' - Release Candidate 1 for Beta 3 | ||
* '''''[[ | * '''''[[/4.90.2499.7|Windows ME build 2499.7]]''''' - official beta 3 | ||
* '''[[ | * '''''[[/4.90.2509|Windows ME build 2509]]''''' | ||
* '''''[[/4.90.2513|Windows ME build 2513]]''''' | |||
* '''''[[ | * '''''[[/4.90.2516|Windows ME build 2516]]''''' | ||
* '''''[[ | |||
===Release Candidate=== | ===Release Candidate=== | ||
* '''''[[ | * '''''[[/4.90.2525|Windows ME build 2525]]''''' - Release Candidate 0 | ||
* '''''[[ | * '''''[[/4.90.2525.6|Windows ME build 2525.6]]''''' - Release Candidate 1 | ||
* '''''[[ | * '''''[[/4.90.2535|Windows ME build 2535]]''''' - Release Candidate 2 | ||
=== | ===Release to Manufatcuring=== | ||
* '''''[[ | * '''''[[/4.90.3000|Windows ME build 3000]]''''' | ||
==References== | == Gallery == | ||
Screenshots of unidentified, unlabeled builds from Paul Thurrott.<ref name = "thurrott">{{cite web | |||
|last=Thurrott | |||
|first=Paul | |||
|title=The Road to Gold: The development of Windows Me | |||
|url=http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/windowsme_gold.asp | |||
|date=5 July 2000 | |||
|publisher=Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows | |||
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000816175923/http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/windowsme_gold.asp | |||
|archivedate= 16 August 2000 | |||
|accessdate= 8 April 2022 | |||
}}</ref> | |||
<gallery> | |||
Windows_ME_2358_(1).gif | |||
Windows_ME_2358_(2).gif | |||
Windows_ME_2358_(3).gif | |||
</gallery> | |||
== References == | |||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
==External links== | == See also == | ||
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20000815054607/http://microsoft.com/WindowsMe/ Windows Millennium Edition Home Page] | |||
===BetaArchive forums=== | |||
* [[forum:15757|Windows ME Activity Centers]] | |||
* [[forum:16196|About ME, Neptune Betas]] | |||
== External links == | |||
=== Microsoft === | |||
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20000815054607/http://microsoft.com/WindowsMe/ Windows Millennium Edition Home Page] (on the WayBack Machine) | |||
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20001018205447/http://www.microsoft.com/PressPass/features/1999/07-26millenium.asp "Millennium," the Next Version of Consumer Windows, to Simplify Home Computing in Four Key Ways], 26 July 1999, announcing release of the Developer Preview (on the WayBack Machine) | |||
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20000711071912/http://microsoft.com/presspass/press/2000/Jun00/WinMeReleasePR.asp Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition Released to Manufacturing], 19 June 2000 (on the WayBack Machine) | |||
=== Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows (on the WayBack Machine) === | |||
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20000620222325/http://www.winsupersite.com/faq/millennium.asp Windows Millennium Edition ("Windows Me") FAQ] | |||
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20000620225832/http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/millennium_b3_intro.asp Introducing Windows Millennium Edition ("Windows Me") Beta 3] | |||
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20000815090954/http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/millennium_b3.asp Windows Millennium Edition ("Windows Me") Beta 3 Reviewed] | |||
[[Category: | [[Category:Microsoft Windows]] | ||
Latest revision as of 07:12, 17 December 2023
 |
|
| Microsoft Windows ME | |
| Codename Preliminary name |
Millennium |
|---|---|
| Kernel version | 16/32 bit hybrid, ver. 4.90 |
| CPU architecture | x86 |
| Release date | 14/09/2000 |
| Support end | Expired 11/07/2006 |
| Preceded by | Windows 98 |
| Succeeded by | Neptune / Windows XP |
Windows Millennium Edition (referred as Windows Me, codenamed Millennium) was the last 16/32 bit hybrid version of Microsoft Windows. Discovered by Paul Thurrott in September 1997, the codename Millennium initially referred to the next Windows version after Windows 2000, then in development as Windows NT 5.0. Windows NT 6.0 Millennium was originally expected in 2000 and 2001. However, on 7 April 1999, during WinHEC 1999,[1] Microsoft announced that Millennium would be the next release in the Windows 9x line, succeeding Windows 98.[2] CEO Steve Ballmer said:
I also want to announce today a new version of Consumer Windows that we will deliver in the year 2000.We weren’t sure for a while what we’d be delivering in the year 2000 exactly.Today, I’m here to tell you there will be a new version of Windows next year targeted for the consumer market.It will continue to be built in the year 2000 on the Windows 98 code base as opposed to the Windows 2000 code base.We will get there eventually with Windows 2000 in the consumer market.It had been our target to bet here in 2000, but we’ve decided to do the things that we all need to do to simplify the experience.The right approach next year is to continue to enhance the Windows 98 product.And it will be focused on the key consumer needs, the simplicity or it just works aspects that I talked about, Universal Plug and Play (UpnP) home networking which I’ll have a chance to show you in a minute, improving the online experience since a larger and larger percentage of what people do with their home computers is to be online, and the handling of digital media, pictures, music, video, et cetera, which is becoming more fundamental to the consumer computing experience.We want to extend the functionality of Windows in the consumer environment out of the box. (Note: Absence of spaces after every full stop/period is in the original text.)
— Steve Ballmer, Steve Ballmer Speech Transcript – WinHEC ’99, [1]
Me was released as version 4.9, but Twitter user Albacore (@thebookisclosed) suggests that the kernel version might have been 5.0 initially, citing files from builds 2332 and 2348, with a version number of 5.0 and build numbers pre-2332.[3]
Windows Me was released to manufacturing on June 19, 2000 and to retail on September 14, 2000.[4] It was criticized due to its instability, and was sold on the market for a total of 402 days before being superseded by Windows XP on October 25, 2001.[5] Some components of Windows 2000, such as the TCP/IP stack, were ported to Windows Me.
Prior to the release of Windows Me, Microsoft had planned for Windows Neptune to bridge the gap between the 9x series and Windows NT. However, Microsoft changed its plans in early 1999 and decided to release another 16/32-bit hybrid operating system, postponing the release of Neptune. Later, the Neptune project was scrapped in favor of Windows XP (then codenamed Whistler). Notably, some of the features scheduled for Neptune, such as the Help and Support Activity Center, were included in Windows Me.[6]
Although generally perceived to be a failure, Windows Me introduced several features which would later be deemed beneficial,[5] including Automatic Updates,[7] System Restore,[8] Windows Image Acquisition,[9] and Windows Movie Maker. It is also the first consumer oriented version of Windows to natively offer support for USB mass storage devices.
Builds
- No information available
- Existence doubtful
- Information or pictures available
- Leaked or released
Developer Release
- Millennium build 2332.2 - Developer Release 1
- Millennium build 2348.0 - Developer Release 2
- Millennium build 2350.3
- Millennium build 2358.0 - Developer Release 3
- Millennium build 2363 - Developer Release 4
- Millennium build 2368
- Millennium build 2374
Beta 1
- Millennium build 2380.2 - official beta 1
- Millennium build 2394
- Millennium build 2399
Beta 2
- Millennium build 2400
- Millennium build 2402
- Millennium build 2403
- Millennium build 2404
- Millennium build 2408
- Millennium build 2410
- Millennium build 2416
- Millennium build 2419 - official beta 2
- Millennium build 2429
- Millennium build 2434
- Millennium build 2443
- Millennium build 2447
- Windows ME build 2452 - official beta 2 Refresh
- Windows ME build 2455
- Windows ME build 2460
- Windows ME build 2465
- Windows ME build 2466
- Windows ME build 2470
- Windows ME build 2476
- Windows ME build 2481
- Windows ME build 2487
Beta 3
- Windows ME build 2491
- Windows ME build 2495
- Windows ME build 2499 - Release Candidate for Beta 3
- Windows ME build 2499.3 - Release Candidate 1 for Beta 3
- Windows ME build 2499.7 - official beta 3
- Windows ME build 2509
- Windows ME build 2513
- Windows ME build 2516
Release Candidate
- Windows ME build 2525 - Release Candidate 0
- Windows ME build 2525.6 - Release Candidate 1
- Windows ME build 2535 - Release Candidate 2
Release to Manufatcuring
Gallery
Screenshots of unidentified, unlabeled builds from Paul Thurrott.[10]
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.gif)
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References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ballmer, Steve (7 April 1999). Steve Ballmer Speech Transcript – WinHEC ’99. Microsoft. Retrieved on 22 November 2023.
- ↑ Thurrott, Paul (December 1999). The Road to Gold: The development of Windows 2000 Reviewed. Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows. Archived from the original on 16 August 2000. Retrieved on 31 October 2023.
- ↑ Albacore (@thebookisclosed) (6 April 2021). It looks like Windows ME's kernel version might have been 5.0 initially. (instead of 4.9) Over the past few days I've been downloading Win9X builds, extracting them and harvesting file versions and I noticed that while there are no 4.9 builds preceding 2332, there are 5.0 ones.. Twitter. Retrieved on 17 April 2022.
- ↑ Microsoft. (June 19, 2000). "Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition Released to Manufacturing"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Zheng, Long. (March 18, 2008). "Why Windows Me deserves more respect"
- ↑ Thurrott, Paul. (April 6, 2013). "SuperSite Flashback: Neptune"
- ↑ Microsoft. "Description of Automatic Updates in Windows Millennium Edition (Me)"
- ↑ Microsoft. "Description of the System Restore Utility in Windows Millennium Edition"
- ↑ Microsoft Developer Network. "Windows Image Acquisition (WIA)"
- ↑ Thurrott, Paul (5 July 2000). The Road to Gold: The development of Windows Me. Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows. Archived from the original on 16 August 2000. Retrieved on 8 April 2022.
See also
BetaArchive forums
External links
Microsoft
- Windows Millennium Edition Home Page (on the WayBack Machine)
- "Millennium," the Next Version of Consumer Windows, to Simplify Home Computing in Four Key Ways, 26 July 1999, announcing release of the Developer Preview (on the WayBack Machine)
- Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition Released to Manufacturing, 19 June 2000 (on the WayBack Machine)
